We have been told that the appeal against a decision to turn down the transfer of Manuel Benson from Burnley to Swansea City (on loan) has little timeframe applied to it. However, expectations can be from twenty four hours up to a week.
As many of our regular readers know we have a carefully protected number of sources, the best we always find are agents who we have built up a trusting and careful relationship with over time. We have been pointed towards the following guidance for this appeal. As an example, most appeals for late transfers fail unless there’s rock-solid evidence of a technical error. David de Gea going to Real Madrid in 2015 is a point in case. The paperwork was filed minutes late but the appeal was rejected. On the other hand if a specific error can be pointed out and referred to such as an administrative malfunction at the English Football League (EFL) then this weighs very much in favour of a successful appeal.
We have been told that Swansea City did file their paperwork within the dedicated timeframe for Manuel Benson to be a Swansea City player, everything was signed and sealed by the player, Swansea and Burnley. However, again there seems to be some error at the Burnley end of the transfer. As it is a domestic agreement between the clubs FIFA would not be involved involved in this process. If the error is at either of the clubs administrative department then it is odds on the appeal will fail.
It’s quite an uncertain time, with Benson signed (otherwise no deal sheet would have been submitted) it’s a waiting game which may or may not be concluded today. Then there is a statement from both clubs to compile before releasing the news either way, which in itself would be made to avoid any future repercussions. Especially if another deal was to be arranged for this January, or any other player going in between both clubs. Personal relationships between football clubs is crucial, they never know when they will need each other again. The transfer of Adam Idah though could be an exception with sources telling us tempers were frayed, and we put this right at the feet of Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers with his comments from Friday morning. The recall of Adam to Glasgow didn’t go at all well, both on his arrival there and after speaking to Rodgers directly. We are told that as a result of him being recalled he was told that it was merely a political move by Rodgers to pressure his board into action. Again, another transfer which had been signed and sealed but Celtic wouldn’t release his registration in some sort of display of support for Rodgers.
After all what more could they do ? They also blocked the move of Hyunjun Yang to Birmingham City which actually in the end didn’t go through. Any public fall out between Rodgers and his board wouldn’t go well, especially with Celtic’s track record of stumbling through deals and at times either delaying them so they couldn’t happen or stating via the media they are after a player when they really were not. The Swans under the other regime did this a few years back.
So, there is time for this to happen, it sounds unlikely but that will depend on the actual points of the appeal submitted. More on this as we get it on the Indy. It could be even resolved as we send this report.